What is Kundalini Yoga?

To find out about Kundalini Yoga classes and teachers in Scotland:
https://www.kundaliniyogascotland.org/

Kundalini Yoga incorporates physical exercises, breath work, mantras and meditation to strengthen the nervous system and promote hormonal balance so that we can withstand the stress of daily life.

A typical Kundalini Yoga class is an hour and a half and begins with a warm up, followed by a Kriya. A Kriya is a specific set of exercises that has been passed on over many years and works towards a specific outcome. Practicing a Kriya as it was given initiates a sequence of physical and mental changes that affect the body, mind and spirit simultaneously. For example, in one class we may be practicing an energising Kriya, the next we may be working on building up our immune system. Every class can be different and can bring its own challenges, which is why it is perfect for beginners and advanced practitioners alike. We always follow a Kriya with a period of relaxation, and then a meditation which may involve a mantra or a specific breathing technique.

The purpose of Kundalini Yoga is to raise the energy which sits dormant at the base of the spine. When the Kundalini energy is flowing through the body correctly, it stimulates the different chakras (or wheels of energy) located along the spine and up to the top of the head.

Each chakra corresponds to a different gland in the body - our physical and energetic bodies match up. For example, the sixth chakra (physically the space between the eyebrows) perceives more deeply and intuitively based on the secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland, also known as the master gland, is a small gland that sits in the centre of the brain, directly behind where the sixth chakra sits. It regulates all the other glands in the body and is responsible for secreting hormones itself which help us develop our intuition, or our own inner guide.

Enhanced intuition, hormonal balance and in turn emotional balance allow us to control ourselves rather than being controlled by our thoughts and feelings.

Kundalini Yoga is a practice for people who have to cope with the daily challenges and stresses of holding jobs, raising families, and managing businesses. It is a path for everyone who wants the skills to cope successfully with the challenges of our times.